Zambia: NAVA Bharat to start revamping Maamba Coal mine - Quoted in the Lusaka Times

Maamba Collieries (MCL) Chief Executive Officer has said NAVA Bharat ventures (NBV) will revive the operations of the company which had been grounded for many years and contribute to the development of the country.

MCL Chief Executive Officer Dipesh Dipu said in his first address to the miners at the company’s offices in Maamba Township that a thermal plant for generating power using coal would be built in less than three years.

Mr. Dipu said the Power project would be producing 300 mega watts of power and more associated local business would be supported.

“We need to look beyond the horizon and see the lives of people of our country being lit up by coal we produce and power we generate,” Mr Dipu said.

He told the miners that the power project would be the first of its kind in Zambia and a lot of people were expected to be visiting MCL.

Mr. Dipu disclosed that a new Coal Processing Plant (CPP) would be built to replace the old plant and the Rope Way will be worked on to improve the transportation of coal to Masuku.

“Mamba is going to change, we have to work hard to ensure that we are part of the history and benefit from the wealth we are going to create,” Mr Dipu said.

The MCL Chief Executive Officer said the new CPP would be environmentally friendly as less effluent would be discharged in the streams.

Mr. Dipu noted that the new CPP would be using less water and will have the mechanism to recycle the water which will be even safe for drinking.

He told the workers who have gone for more than five months without getting a salary that the company was working on a modality to find out how much they were owed so that they would be paid.

Mr. Dipu assured them that they would be paid their April salary before the end of this Friday.On social responsibility, Mr Dipu explained that he would ensure that the profit the company will be making was ploughed back to the community in various sectors.

“Mamba is going to change, we have to work hard to ensure that we are part of the history and benefit from the wealth we are going to create,” Mr Dipu said.

Two weeks ago MCL was privatized to NAVA Bharat ventures which now owns 65 percent shares while government will have 35 percent.

MCL has been having serious operational problems as a result of having out dated equipment, liabilities, and lack of capital to revamp its operations.

NAVA Bharat Ventures’ taking over the operation of the mine has cheered the miners who have been facing financial problems to address basic needs for their families.